Skylight-lifter.



Patented Nov. 7, |899. S. I. HOWARD.

SKYLIGHT LIFTER.

(Application led May 20, 1899.)

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL I. HOWARD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

sKYLlcHT-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters llatent No. 636,338, dated November '7, 1899. Application filedMay 20, 1899. Serial No. 717,555. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL L'HowARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Skylight-Lifter, of which the following is a specification. v

My invention relates to that class of skylight-lifters shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 604,473, granted to me May 24, 1898; andthe objects of my invention are to provide a lighter, stronger, and less eX- pensive construction by employing stamped sheet metal to form the casing of my skylightlifter, to provide a simple and efficient form of spring-catch forming a detachable connection between the operating slide or rod and the skylight, so that the skylight may be disconnected from the skylight-lifter and thrown completely open when it is desired to have access to the roof, to provide means for adj ustably connecting lthe operating-link with the bottom bar of the skylight, and to improve the details and arrangements of parts, as hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this specification.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of a skylight, showing the application of one of myskylightlifters thereto. Fig. 2 is a front view, partially broken away, of the parts comprised by my skylight-lifter. showing the parts in a dierent relative position. Fig. et is a detail view of the springcatch forming a detachable connection between the operating rod or slide and its link, and Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views illustrating the form of connecting-piece which maybe employed for connecting the link to the bottom bar of the skylight. Y

`Referring to the drawings and in detail, a skylight-lifter constructed according to my present invention comprises a casing 10, having a perforated flange for receiving screws to secure the same in place. Extending down through the casing 10 is an operating slide or rod 1l. Mounted on the operating slide or rod 11 are perforated clamping-plates 13, which are normally inclined or tipped to the position illustrated in Fig. 2 by means of springs coiled on the operating slide or rod.

Fig. 3 is a similar view The body portion of the casing l0 is provided with insets 12, on which the clamping-plates 13 may swivel or turn, and which also form stops for limiting the motion thereof. A releasing-lever 14 is journaled on a stud in the casing 10 and is arranged between the clamping-plates 13, so that when the releasing-lever is operated the clamping-plates 13 will be turned,as illustrated in Fig. 3, to release their grip on the operating slide or rod 11. A cord 15 has its upper end connected to the releasing-lever 14 and is trained around a pulley 16 on the lower end of the operating slide or rod 11, then up over a pulley 17, journaled on the face of the casing 10, and then down in position to be conveniently operated. The operating rod or slide 11 is connected to the skylight by means of a link or rod 18. The link or rod 18 may be connected to the skylight in any ordinary way; but in practice I `have found that it :is preferable to provide a connecting-piece for this purpose, which may be secured to the bottom ba'r of the skylight and which may extend in therefrom in position to engage thenlink 18.

As illustrated in Fig. 5, the connectingpiece 21 comprises a body portion 22, which may be screwed onto the bottom bar of a skylight, and an arm or portion 23, extending inward therefrom, having a series of perforations for receiving a piu to connect the same to the link 18. This form of connection I have found especially desirable, as many skylights are now glazed or provided with a single pane of glass, and this fact has necessitated a connection from the bottom bar of the skylight, although where the skylight is pro` vided with a center bar the link 18 can be directly connected thereto as desired.

In many buildings access to the roof can be gained through a skylight alone, and on this account it is desirable to construct skylight- IOO U extending through the link 18 and a spring 2O being coiled on the longer leg of the catch, so as to normally hold the short leg in the position shown to connect'the parts together. When the spring-catch is pressed back, as illustrated by dotted lines, the hinged joint between the link 1S and the operating rod or slide will be released, so that the skylight-lifter will not then interfere with fully opening or throwing back the skylight to the desired extent. The use of this springcatch is also advantageous, as it permits my skylight-litters to be more compactly packed for shipment or storage, and in order to prevent 'the operating rod or slide 1l from being withdrawn from the casing 10 a wire stop-rin g is preferably secured on the upper end thereof, as shown in Fig. 4.

I am aware that certain features of my improved skylight-lifter may be modified or changed by those who are skilled in the art and that parts thereof may be omitted or varied without departing from the scope of my invention as expressed in the claims. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited to the exact form which I have herein shown and described; but

Vhat I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. The combination of a skylight-lifter comprising a casing, an operating rod or slide mounted therein, means for shifting the operating-rod and for holding the same in its adjusted position, a skylight, a link connecting the operating-rod and skylight, and a spring-pressed catch forming a detachable connection between the skylight and the operating-rod of said skylight-lifter, substantially as described.

2. The combination ofaskylight-lifter com- 4o prising a casing, an operating rod or slide mounted therein, spring-pressed clampingplates, a releasing-lever therefor, and a cord connected to operate said releasing-lever and shift the operating-rod, a link for connecting the operating-rod and skylight, and a detachable connection between the skylight and operating-rod comprising a U -shaped catch having a short leg forming a pivot for a hinged joint, and a spring coiled on the longer leg 5o thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a skylight-lifter comprising a casing, an operating slide or rod mounted therein, means for shifting the slide and for holding the same in its adjusted position, a skylight, a connecting link or rod, and a piece for receiving the connecting-link, comprising an arm having a series of perforations therein extending in from the bottom bar of the skylight, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL I. I'IOVARD.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK B. HARLow, PHILIP W. SOUTHGATE. 

